Biological Waste

Contact information

Biological Safety Office

Biological waste includes any material that once contained or now contains living organisms, or that is a product, portion, or waste of a living or once-living organism. Biological waste that is infectious to humans must be managed and disposed of as medical waste. See: Medical Waste.

1. Animal Carcasses and Waste Products

Healthy animals not treated with chemicals, radioisotopes, or biohazardous agents:

Place animal parts, tissue, waste, and carcasses (small and large animals) in tightly sealed plastic bags in designated disposal containers.

Carcasses will be sent off campus to a rendering company or incinerated. Contact your department for more information.

Animals treated with chemical, radioactive, or biohazardous agents:

Contact EH&S to develop a written handling, transportation and treatment, and/or disposal procedure.

2. Blood and Body Fluids

Treat with bleach (10% final concentration for at least 30 minutes), and pour into a sink drain connected to the campus sewage system. Be sure to follow the treated material with copious amounts of water. Do not pour into a storm drain.

Place the empty containers in autoclavable bags with autoclave tape and autoclave. Do not dispose of containers of liquids in garbage cans or dumpsters.

Dispose of autoclaved waste in solid waste container.

Non-infectious blood or fluid-soaked materials:

Place bandages, gauze, paper towels, etc. in autoclavable bags with autoclave tape and autoclave. There should be no dripping or leakage of liquid from bagged waste.

Contact EH&S to develop a written handling, transportation and treatment, and/or disposal procedure.

3. Tissue Culture Media

Culture media used to transfer, inoculate, and prepare non-infectious cultures:

Place solid tissue culture media waste in autoclavable bags with autoclave tape and autoclave. Do not dispose of untreated materials ingarbagecan or dumpsters.

Dispose of autoclaved waste in solid waste container.

Autoclave or treat liquid tissue culture media waste with bleach (10% final concentration for at least 30 minutes), and pour liquids into a sink drain connected to the campus sewage system. Be sure to follow the treated material with copious amounts of water. Do not pour into a storm drain.